Emotional characteristics of socially isolated older adults with MCI using tablet administered NIH toolbox: I‐CONECT study

Abstract

Introduction Examining the emotional functioning of individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) could help describe their cognitive status and inform the development of interventions. This study compared the emotional characteristics of socially isolated older adults with and without MCI. Methods We used baseline data from the Internet‐based Conversational Engagement Clinical Trial. Emotional characteristics were assessed with the National Institutes of Health Toolbox Emotion Battery (NIHTB‐EB). MCI status was determined with a consensus clinical diagnosis. Results This study included 163 participants (mean age = 81.2 years, non‐Hispanic Black = 20.7%, MCI = 52.8%). MCI was associated with higher negative affect and lower psychological well‐being. Non‐Hispanic Black participants scored lower in sadness, higher in positive affect, and higher in meaning and purpose than non‐Hispanic White participants. Conclusion Older adults with MCI experience more negative emotions and worse psychological well‐being than those with normal cognition. The NIHTB‐EB appears to be a sensitive tool to detect emotional characteristics associated with cognitive decline.

Internet-Based Conversational Engagement Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial (I-CONECT) Among Socially Isolated Adults 75+ Years Old With Normal Cognition or Mild Cognitive Impairment: Topline Results

“…NIHTB-EB includes four general domains: negative affect (anger, fear, and sadness), psychological well-being (positive affect, general life satisfaction, and meaning and purpose), stress and self-efficacy (perceived stress and self-efficacy), and social relationships (social support, companionship, and social distress). Three domain scores, negative affect, social satisfaction, and psychological well-being, were calculated with 17 subscale scores weighted by factor loading ( Babakhanyan et al, 2018 ; Yu et al, 2022 ).…”

The Paradox in Positive and Negative Aspects of Emotional Functioning Among Older Adults with Early Stages of Cognitive Impairment

“…NIHTB-EB has demonstrated good reliability (Cronbach αs ranging from .90 to .98 across scales) and acceptable convergent validity (correlation coefficients ranging from .60 to .92 across scales) among adult participants in prior literature (Kupst et al, 2015; Pilkonis et al, 2013; Salsman et al, 2013, 2014). Its validity and appropriateness for use have been documented among individuals with cognitive impairment, including individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment, dementia, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, and traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and stroke (Carlozzi et al, 2017; Chaparro et al, 2016; Fox et al, 2022; Lopez et al, 2023; Yu et al, 2022). Moreover, test administrators were trained to make sure that participants accurately understood and were able to respond to NIHTB-EB instruments during the in-person interviews.…”

Digital Storytelling Intervention for Enhancing the Social Participation of People With Mild Cognitive Impairment: Co-Design and Usability Study

“…Incorporating storytelling as a therapeutic intervention possesses enormous potential for improving health care outcomes and promoting well-being among people with MCI [12]. Studies have demonstrated that socially isolated people with MCI may experience lower psychological well-being and exhibit more negative states of mind than older adults considered to have cognitive normality [13]. Owing to cognitive impairments, people with MCI may encounter the following issues: (1) reduced interest in and initiation of social interactions, suggesting a lack of proactive engagement [14]; (2) difficulties in establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships, implying an impaired sense of social synchrony; and (3) challenges in recognizing and adhering to social boundaries and norms [15].…”